*In process of stocking* We're delighted to have Blancmange main man Neil Arthur on the cover of the latest issue of Electronic Sound – and a special dot-to-dot image of him, no less. We have a limited edition pink vinyl seven-inch to accompany the magazine too, with the awesome 'Living On The Ceiling' on the A-side.
Blancmange were one of the coolest synthpop outfits of the early 1980s and it was quite a surprise when Neil Arthur and his original partner Stephen Luscombe called it a day in 1986. It was another surprise when Neil resurrected the group in 2011, putting out a dozen or so new Blancmange albums during the last 11 years. The latest, 'Private View', is an absolute corker. And as well as making great records, Neil always gives brilliant interviews, skipping between subjects, offering unique opinions, telling endless anecdotes – from swimming races with Depeche Mode to sitting on Grace Jones' knee – and all of it without missing a beat. He's a master at connecting the dots. Hence this month’s cover image.
Our other features this issue include modular synthesist Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, analogue evangelist Pye Corner Audio, and 'Killing Eve' soundtrackers Unloved. We ask Paul Oakenfold about his influences and Laraaji about making his 'Ambient 3' album with Brian Eno. We have wonky art-popsters Jockstrap too, plus Maddalena Fagandini, Sarah Davachi and Dan "Danalogue" Leavers. Oh, and a couple of people who create music from bat noises. Remember where you read it first, folks.
The exclusive seven-inch we’re bundling together with the magazine is going to keep you running round and round. Up and down, up the wall, up the bloody tree. We are, of course, talking about Blancmange's fantastic 'Living On The Ceiling', which we've released on tasty pink vinyl. The track was a UK Top 10 smash in 1982 and has lost none of its shine in the years since. The B-side, meanwhile, is 'Some Times These', a highlight of Blancmange's new album, 'Private View'. "There are kosmische and motorik references there," says Neil Arthur. "But then most people know about my love of Neu!, Can and Cluster." Despite being recorded a full four decades apart, the two tracks make for a doubly cool record. Miss it at your peril!
